Derek, “food was my life”

Derek is being cared for in the Inpatient Unit and has shared how he feels about the wonderful Bistro at Alice House.

“It’s been a year since I was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus, which for a chef has been pretty devastating.

My cancer affects the long narrow tube which runs from your throat to your stomach so eating is a real problem for me.

I live in Hartlepool with my wife but I used to travel over to the lakes for my job as a Chef. Being a chef I knew how to make some real tasty soups and smoothies which my wife and I batch cooked because we knew what would be coming on this journey.

I have had to give up my job as a chef and I do miss cooking, and why I know how amazing the Catering Team are here.

I am staying in the Hospice’s Inpatient Care and we can order anything that we want to eat (within reason – I don’t go ordering steak! But I bet if I did they would find a way to get it for me).

Food is so important, for nutrition, for our wellbeing so when we found out about the Facebook Donate my wife and I just wanted to give something back.

If everyone keeps giving a little then together we can help the Hospice be here for more people like me when this pandemic is all over.”